The Tree Farm Cabins
Nestled within the pine forest of The Tree Farm near Aiken, South Carolina, the golf cabins are conceived as quiet companions to the land. Set among sandy soils and native understory, they are intentionally modest in form and material, designed to blend into the landscape rather than stand apart from it. Simple rooflines, restrained detailing, and natural finishes emphasize durability, clarity, and comfort over spectacle. Each cabin is carefully sited to preserve trees, capture soft light, and create a calm, understated sense of arrival. Together, the cabins support rest and reflection while honoring the climate, landscape, and enduring traditions of the game.
Location
New Holland, South Carolina
Collaboration
Alex Warr
Design Team
Joe Rivers and Kevin Barden
Typology
Commercial
Date
2020-2024
Interior Design
Charlotte Lucas Interior Design
General Contractor
Barringer Construction
Owner's Representative
Playbook Management
Photography
Leonid Furmansky
Process
Explore
Geodesic Dome Renovation
Minnetonka, Minnesota
Residential
This renovation transforms a 1980s geodesic dome, originally conceived during the height of the energy crisis, into a bright, connected, and contemporary home. A new primary suite frames views of the surrounding forest, while an open kitchen maintains visual and acoustic connection to the living and dining areas. Fresh finishes throughout renew the interior without erasing its character.
Kevin Barden
Architect
Art and Design
In this episode, our resident architect Joe Rivers sits down with our other resident architect Kevin Barden from Minnetonka, Minnesota. Kevin and Joe first met at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, over a decade ago. Since then, Kevin's journey in architecture has taken him many places, including Chur, Switzerland where he studied and worked for two and half years, and Houston, Texas where Rivers Barden Architects laid its roots. Joe sat down with Kevin to discuss his beginning in architecture, his influences, and his mantra for living a fulfilled life.
Talking About Wood (Reden Über Holz)
Translation: Kevin Barden
Writing
In 1985, Swiss architects Michael Alder, Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, and Peter Zumthor sat down with Archithese to discuss building with wood; the continued traditions of its use as well as the possibility of developing new traditions. All four architects articulate a specific interest of the material and offer a critical eye to the others’ work. While Alder is concerned with the aesthetics of wood, Zumthor is attentive to the material from a cabinetmaker’s…